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Alternatief

"Alternatief" can both be a noun or adjective in Dutch. The adjective is covered in 2. below.

Examples:– "Het spijt me, maar we moeten dit op deze manier doen; er is geen alternatief." ("I'm sorry, but we have to do this this way; there is no alternative.")

– "We hebben uiteindelijk een vakantiehuisje gehuurd. Er waren wel alternatieven, namelijk een hotel of kamperen, maar dit was verreweg de beste optie." ("Eventually we rented a holiday home. There were alternatives, namely a hotel or a camping, but by far this was the best option.")

The adjective 'alternatief' is also used in the meaning of countercultural, e.g. alternative music/films/clothing/scene. People who have adopted and express an alternative lifestyle are sometimes referred to as "alto's". I used to be an 'alto' in my teenage years, back then closely linked to grunge music, with long hair, black clothes and a nose-piercing :-)

– "Ik heb een alternatieve vakantiebestemming gevonden die wij, denk ik, allebei leuk vinden. Zullen we er vanavond even naar kijken?" ("I have found an alternative holiday destination that both of us will like, I think. Shall we look at it together tonight?")